Wrong substitutions tonight

I think Giggs was rather sloppy tonight and should have made way for Valencia.

I presume Anderson was brought off for being tired (isn't he always) so if that was the case I would have gone with Park playing down the middle.

With regards to Owen, I think he could have come on for Hernandez towards the end.

For me, Nani should have stayed on the pitch for longer with Valencia on the other flank. Rooney on the wing when you are looking for a winner is just plain silly and Giggs was below par for the majority of the night.

Anyway, not that bad of a result, the main worry is Chelsea creeping back up as I feel Arsenal will drop points tomorrow one way or another.

Hmmm I dunno. The reasons for the subs seemed pretty obvious at the time.

Anderson had to go off because he was fecking shit.

Fergie wanted to get Owen on and understandably didn't want to take off Rooney or Hernandez whilst chasing a goal. Valencia was a sub himself and it would never be Carrick as he was our only genuine midfield player. That left Nani as the only option really unless he was going to take full backs off.

Anyone other than me get frustrated with how long SAF waits to make a change, no matter how obviously we need it? He's often on the money on these things but he's always been very reluctant to make an incisive change before the 65-70 minute mark, no matter how dreadful certain individuals or we as a team are playing.

Saturday and tonight are big examples. City pushed high up because they knew Berba offered no threat in behind but SAF still didn't make the change that would have forced them to alter their approach until it was too late and they'd scored. Tonight we were flat and were crying out for Valencia to come on and liven things up far earlier than he did.

Trouble with taking Giggs off instead of Nani is it leaves you with no one capable of playing alongside Carrick in centre midfield, none of Nani/Valencia/Owen/Hernandez or Rooney are centre midfield players, i suppose Rooney at a push could have gone back there but then you want him higher up the pitch as hes our best attacking player.

Anyone other than me get frustrated with how long SAF waits to make a change, no matter how obviously we need it? He's often on the money on these things but he's always been very reluctant to make an incisive change before the 65-70 minute mark, no matter how dreadful certain individuals or we as a team are playing.

Saturday and tonight are big examples. City pushed high up because they knew Berba offered no threat in behind but SAF still didn't make the change that would have forced them to alter their approach until it was too late and they'd scored. Tonight we were flat and were crying out for Valencia to come on and liven things up far earlier than he did.

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Agree. But heck he has won so much for us but definitely in these 2 games I think SAF has made errors.

I think the pace of the game was already too quick to put Valencia on when he did. I think he excels when the game is slower and he can take more touches on the ball and look for half a yard to get the cross in.

yeah i am serious I thought he was rubbish tonight. I havent normally jumped on him but he really was poor

i can remember one positive thing he did. He is a much better player than he showed tonight

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Considering he had Giggs, who was playing in his own little world tonight, next to him and a beast in Tiote to compete with he did brilliantly for me. Kept the ball ticking over, made forward passes, actually made 3 driving runs forward and as always was exceptional when Newcastle broke. He has a fantastic ability to take a yard or two back and read the game better than anyone else we have.

Out of all the players getting criticism tonight it shouldn't be Carrick, not a chance.

Valencias been very uncharacteristically shit the last 2 games, then again its only because hes been so brilliant both post and pre horror injury it stands out when he performs like a human.

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It's quite predictable. His first few games he was playing on emotion and elation of coming back - the adrenalin gets you through - but as that has subsided he is now feeling the pace of the games which is totally understandable.

Considering he had Giggs, who was playing in his own little world tonight, next to him and a beast in Tiote to compete with he did brilliantly for me. Kept the ball ticking over, made forward passes, actually made 3 driving runs forward and as always was exceptional when Newcastle broke. He has a fantastic ability to take a yard or two back and read the game better than anyone else we have.

Out of all the players getting criticism tonight it shouldn't be Carrick, not a chance.

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Great post. Carrick was definitely one of our better players. His passing was excellent, and yes, it was nice to see him get forward regularly which he has not done so often recently. And of course he is always assured defensively. It is bemusing that this performance has been criticised.

At 60 minutes I was like wtf now at least bring Valencia on - I just think it's one of SAF's flaws in that he waits too long to give subs adequate chance to get into the game. Once in a while a player will come on and make that vital contribution but, too often subs don't get a chance to really get into the game when given 15-20 min.

I thought Ando would go and Giggs in the middle - that wasn't the problem but, would have brought off Chicha for Owen instead of Nani. Chicha's touch was all over the place but, guess he's been in such good goal scoring form was difficult.

Also was begging for O'Shea to be brought off for Fabio - think it would have made the biggest difference.

At 60 minutes I was like wtf now at least bring Valencia on - I just think it's one of SAF's flaws in that he waits too long to give subs adequate chance to get into the game. Once in a while a player will come on and make that vital contribution but, too often subs don't get a chance to really get into the game when given 15-20 min.

I thought Ando would go and Giggs in the middle - that wasn't the problem but, would have brought off Chicha for Owen instead of Nani. Chicha's touch was all over the place but, guess he's been in such good goal scoring form was difficult.

Also was begging for O'Shea to be brought off for Fabio - think it would have made the biggest difference.

At the OP, Park is never that good when you are chasing a game or need a goal. Nani should have been on longer. We should have just played Giggs-Carrick in midfield and Rooney playing right behind Owen-Hernandez with Nani-Valencia on the wings. That would have been much more attacking.